Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 71
Devanagari script
बाणं च तैलधौताग्रमर्धचंद्रमजिह्मगम्
Transliteration
bāṇaṃ ca tailadhautāgramardhacaṃdramajihmagam
Translation
他取出一支箭——箭锋以油磨拭而光亮，形如半月，飞行笔直不偏。
Word by Word
bāṇamarrow
bāṇam:
Karman (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय — ‘and’
tailadhauta-agra-ardhacandra-ajihmagamwith an oil-polished tip, half-moon-shaped, straight-flying
tailadhauta-agra-ardhacandra-ajihmagam:
Karman (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottailadhauta (तैल + धौत, कृदन्त) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + ardhacandra (अर्ध + चन्द्र) + a-jihmaga (a + jihmaga)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — बहुपद-समासः; विशेषणं बाणम् प्रति: ‘oil-polished tip, half-moon-shaped, not-going-crooked (straight-flying)’
Speaker
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (Mahēśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Close-up emphasis: Indra’s chosen arrow—oil-polished tip gleaming, crescent-shaped head, perfectly straight shaft—held poised against the bowstring, ready to release.
FAQs
The Purāṇas often use precise martial imagery to highlight disciplined action and unwavering aim—symbolic of focused will.
No site is mentioned in this verse; it is a descriptive line within a battle narrative.
None; the verse is a technical description of an arrow.